I tried M&S's new Big Daddy Pistachio - is it worth £8.50?
Dubai-style chocolate is a combination of milk chocolate, pistachio and kadayif pastry, with the first recipe for the trending treat created back in 2021 by Sarah Hamouda of FIX Dessert Chocolatier.
The popularity of the chocolate flavour took off in 2024, going viral around the world on platforms including TikTok thanks to influencers like Maria Vehera.
Unless you've been living under a rock for the past few months, you will have noticed this chocolate craze has begun sweeping across the UK.
Major retailers are now jumping on board the trend and releasing their own versions of the viral chocolate bar.
Already, the likes of Lindt, Lidl and B&M have launched their own Dubai-style chocolate bars.
Then on Wednesday, M&S joined them, releasing The Big Daddy Pistachio chocolate bar.
Fans were quick to share their excitement about the release, with an M&S Facebook post about the chocolate alone receiving more than 4,000 likes and nearly 3,000 comments (at the time of writing).
One person, commenting on the M&S Facebook post, said: "TWO bought this morning! It's lovely."
Another shopper wrote: "Il sack the diet to try this."
A third person commented: "Oh my... have to buy 20 when I come from Portugal."
Someone who was lucky enough to get their hands on a Big Daddy chocolate bar posted: "U nailed it ! What a mixture of Carmel , pistachio and a slightly nutty / salty taste !
"I didn't thought it could all work so well together ! Honestly beautiful taste ! I did never ever had anything alike !"
Have you tried M&S's new Big Daddy Pistachio chocolate bar? (Image: Patrick Glover) While another added: "Absolutely amazing 10/10.
"No comparison to the Dubai bar … this one's in a league of it's own !!"
Although shoppers were excited about the release of M&S's Dubai-style chocolate bar, some were concerned about the £8.50 price tag.
One shopper said: "£8.50!!!!! And the bar rattles inside the cardboard. Absolute joke."
While another commented: "Soooooo expensive."
So I went out and bought one of M&S's Big Daddy Pistachio chocolate bars to put it to the test and see if it really is worth £8.50.
The Dubai-style chocolate bar is delicious and I can see why shoppers across the UK have been describing it as "in a league of its own".
The caramel is a fantastic addition to the pistachio and chocolate flavours already a part of the viral recipe.
The Big Daddy Pistachio tastes amazing, but is it worth the price tag? (Image: Patrick Glover) You get a fair slab of chocolate too - 280g to be precise, but I found it weird you had to cut it up yourself, rather than it coming in breakable squares or rectangles.
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I would definitely recommend trying The Big Daddy Pistachio from M&S at least once.
It certainly lives up to the hype and is extremely delicious.
However, I just can't justify the £8.50 price tag. No chocolate should cost that much. I would be happy to pay, say £3.50 for it, absolute maximum.
The Big Daddy Pistachio is available now at M&S stores across the UK for £8.50.
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